All GRE Math Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #2791 : Sat Mathematics
If and , what is ?
Example Question #23 : Algebraic Functions
If and , which of the following could represent ?
The number in the parentheses is what goes into the function.
For the function ,
and
Example Question #2792 : Sat Mathematics
A function F is defined as follows:
for x2 > 1, F(x) = 4x2 + 2x – 2
for x2 < 1, F(x) = 4x2 – 2x + 2
What is the value of F(1/2)?
For F(1/2), x2=1/4, which is less than 1, so we use the bottom equation to solve. This gives F(1/2)= 4(1/2)2 – 2(1/2) + 2 = 1 – 1 + 2 = 2
Example Question #11 : Algebraic Functions
Which of the statements describes the solution set for –7(x + 3) = –7x + 20 ?
There are no solutions.
x = –1
All real numbers are solutions.
x = 0
There are no solutions.
By distribution we obtain –7x – 21 = – 7x + 20. This equation is never possibly true.
Example Question #12 : Algebraic Functions
Will just joined a poetry writing group in town that meets once a week. The number of poems Will has written after a certain number of meetings can be represented by the function , where represents the number of meetings Will has attended. Using this function, how many poems has Will written after 7 classes?
For this function, simply plug 7 in for and solve:
Example Question #13 : Algebraic Functions
If , then ?
To find when , we substitute for in .
Thus, .
We expand to .
We can combine like terms to get .
We add 3 to this result to get our final answer.
Example Question #15 : Algebraic Functions
What is the value of the function f(x) = 6x2 + 16x – 6 when x = –3?
–108
96
–12
0
0
There are two ways to do this problem. The first way just involves plugging in –3 for x and solving 6〖(–3)〗2 + 16(–3) – 6, which equals 54 – 48 – 6 = 0. The second way involves factoring the polynomial to (6x – 2)(x + 3) and then plugging in –3 for x. The second way quickly shows that the answer is 0 due to multiplying by (–3 + 3).
Example Question #14 : Algebraic Functions
Given the functions f(x) = 2x + 4 and g(x) = 3x – 6, what is f(g(x)) when x = 6?
144
12
28
192
16
28
We need to work from the inside to the outside, so g(6) = 3(6) – 6 = 12.
Then f(g(6)) = 2(12) + 4 = 28.
Example Question #15 : Algebraic Functions
A function f(x) = –1 for all values of x. Another function g(x) = 3x for all values of x. What is g(f(x)) when x = 4?
–1
–3
3
–12
12
–3
We work from the inside out, so we start with the function f(x). f(4) = –1. Then we plug that value into g(x), so g(f(x)) = 3 * (–1) = –3.
Example Question #17 : Algebraic Functions
What is f(–3) if f(x) = x2 + 5?
–4
–14
4
15
14
14
f(–3) = (–3)2 + 5 = 9 + 5 = 14